MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos received President Dr Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who arrived here on a one-day business visit to the Sultanate. An official welcome ceremony was given for the Iranian President. Upon the arrival of the motorcade of the Iranian President at Al Alam Palace Guesthouse, His Majesty the Sultan led the welcoming party for the Iranian President. Then, His Majesty accompanied the guest to the Dais of Honour where the National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran was played, while the artillery fired a twenty-one gun salute to the Iranian President.

Then, His Majesty the Sultan shook hands with members of the official delegation accompanying the Iranian President. The President of Iran also shook hands with their Highnesses, the Chairmen of the State Council and Majlis Ash’shura, ministers, commanders of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), Royal Oman Police (ROP) and members of the Mission of Honour accompanying the Iranian President. Afterwards, His Majesty the Sultan and the Iranian President then proceeded to the hall for taking coffee and exchanged cordial conversations.

The two leaders reviewed the strong relations binding the two countries, aspects of the existing bilateral cooperation between the Sultanate and Iran and means of promoting them in various fields that serve the common interests of both the Omani and Iranian friendly peoples.

The meeting was attended from the Omani side by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, General Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office, Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy, Minister of Interior, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Minister of Justice, Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Head of the Mission of Honour accompanying the Guest), and Saud bin Ahmed al Barwani, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, while it was attended from the Iranian side by the official delegation accompanying the Iranian President.

President Dr Rouhani arrived earlier in the day.

The Iranian President and his delegation were received upon their arrival at the Royal Airport by HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Saud bin Ahmed al Barwani, and members of the Iranian Embassy in the Sultanate.

During his visit to the Sultanate, the Iranian President is accompanied by an official delegation comprising

Dr Mohammed Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohammad Nahavandian, Chief of Staff of the President of Iran, Mohammadreza Nematzadeh, Minister of Industries and Business, Dr Valiollah Seif, Governor of Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hesamodin Ashna, Cultural Adviser for the President of the Republic, Head of the Strategic Studies Centre, Hamid Aboutalebi, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office for Political Affairs, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Arab and African Affairs, Bahman Hussein-Pour, Director of the Protocols Department at the Presidential Office, Perviz Ismaili, Vice-Chairman of the Office of the President of the Republic for Relations and Media, Muhammad Tutunji, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Muscat and Gholamhossein Shafei, President of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines.

The visit comes to enhance the existing, fruitful bilateral cooperation between the Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran and stems from the keenness of the leaderships of both countries to promote such cooperation in a bid to achieve further aspirations of the Omani and Iranian friendly peoples in several fields.

Later in the evening, Dr Rouhani and his delegation left after a one-day business visit to the Sultanate.

They were seen off at the Royal Airport by HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Saud bin Ahmed al Barwani, and members of the Iranian Embassy in the Sultanate.

Another historic day for Oman-Iran relations

15th, February 2017

It is yet another historical day in the relationship between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos received President Dr Hassan Rouhani at Al Alam Palace Guesthouse on Wednesday. The two sides discussed a number of issues related to the growing bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and peoples. The visit, fourth by an Iranian president to the Sultanate, came at a time when peoples of countries in the region were looking forward to more peace, security and stability to focus on building better present and future and keep pace with the rapid developments around them.

His Majesty the Sultan, who visited Iran in August 2009 and August 2013, was the first Arab leader to visit Iran after President Rouhani assumed office. The meeting, which happened within the framework of the continuous exchange of views on different aspects of growing bilateral relations in various fields to achieve the common interests for the two countries, also provided an opportunity to discuss a number of pressing regional issues and the efforts made to reach peaceful solutions. The relationship between Oman and Iran dating back to decades did not happen as a coincidence or due to emergency circumstances. They are rather based on long-term historic relations, joint interests, political will and mutual confidence.

Muscat and Tehran negotiate, coordinate, and implement joint projects across a spectrum of sectors.

Both the countries share the requirements to take advantage of the new economic conditions to help their economies.

The relation is based on better understanding, transparency, abiding by good neighbouring principles, non-interference in the domestic affairs to achieve welfare of peoples and countries of the region.

Both the countries maintain good economic relations as they established a naval shipping line. Their trade is expected to increase as it is currently worth about $1.35 billion.

Omani companies target the Iranian market for exports, while Iran sees Oman as a gateway to the Asian and East African markets.

Iran considers Oman as station to deliver its gas to the outside world, especially to Asia.

The Sultanate, as it has always been, is very keen on expanding the horizons of cooperation and friendship relations with the sisterly and friendly countries in the region and the world as well in a bid to enhance opportunities for peace, security, stability and common interests with countries and peoples of the region without prejudice to any of the Sultanate’s relations with other sisterly and friendly countries.

As a result of the Iranian President’s visit to the Sultanate, it is expected that more direct and indirect benefits will be delivered, not only in the Sultanate and Iran, but also to the countries and peoples of the region.